Lesson Prep
My oldest son is not yet eligible for preschool and I’ve already tried and tossed several methods of day/lesson planning.
What hasn’t worked
Methods I know and love. When you plan for teaching large amounts of older children, being planned down to the minutes is nice. It keeps you on track. You feel like you accomplish so much.
This doesn’t work with my family.
Instead of feeling in control and effective, I just get behinder and behinder. A bathroom accident wipes out my plans for 9:45-9:55. A ouchie needs kissing and a sad boy needs comforting, there goes another 5-10 minutes. Laundry, Dishes, Messes, Walks, Naps. And I will be adding a whole lot of nursing soon. These are constant to-dos that just don’t fit in the minute-to-minute schedule.
Fine.
Then I went with the more flexible, try a different subject on a specific day of the week. Planning for different days spent on different subjects. Such as: Monday is Math Day, Tuesday is Language Arts, Wednesday is Science, etc. Especially cool because you could, potentially, if I was brave enough, invite another family over for science or art or something.
No workie.
It wasn’t planned enough! I’d have an activity to do (or really, an idea of an activity), but somehow we never really got around to it. Or, we’d be out one day of the week, so, for example, “Math” wouldn’t get done. Not doing math for 2 weeks (as I’d only planned for it one day of the week) didn’t sit right in my teacher brain.
What is working (for now)
The current approach. I have three big “teaching-times” where specifics are taught: Scripture Study, Gathering Time, and Snack/Lesson Time. And other times where skills are learned: Cleaning Time and Independent Play.
Here is an outline:
7:20am: Scripture Study. (sing, pray, read, sing, pray)
8-9am: Cleaning Time. (Mommy works on her chores. Giant works on his jobs. Ettin helps.)
9am: Gathering Time. (We greet each other, clap for good work, pray, study a gospel picture, and read the morning message)
9:30am: Independent Play. (Boys play without mommy)
10:30am: Snack/Lesson Time. (Have snack and a lesson, and then work on a project together)
11am: Independent Play.
I keep wanting to share more details, like other things we often do. But I think the reason this works so well for me is because it is not jammed full of details. I can make them up as I like!
Planning In Action
The actual planning goes like this: I grab some lined paper, the Gospel Art Kit, and an Early Childhood Themes Throughout the Year book. The ECT book is for inspiration for activities, but I don’t use very much from it (ie, it’s days are not my days. But it has some cute pictures and poems and snack ideas).
I write the days of the week on 5 different pieces of paper.
I start with filling in the blanks (scripture study, cleaning time, etc).
I hit: Story of Jesus. I write a short summary of what I want to focus on for the GAK picture that is next in sequence, and then write a short question or something to ponder. This keeps me on track for a coherent gospel teaching moment at a time when my brain is busy with morning mayhem.
I hit: Morning Message. I write a key sentence for that day and think of a pattern.(We start with “Good morning boys! Today is (day of the week). Key sentence. Pattern. Love mommy (heart). I leave some blanks (maybe 5?) for Giant to fill in letters/sounds/pattern shapes. This planned message can be changed at will.
Going along.
I hit: Snack. I fill in an idea for a snack for the day (usually a varient of fruit and cheese or peanut butter, or toast with toppings).
I hit: Lesson. This is done during snack time. I might read a story or tell a poem or ask questions related to the project we will be doing. I hit: Project. This is the craft/science experiement/dramatic play/ big thing I’ve planned. Afterward we try and celebrate the good work done by using it or displaying it somehow. Its what Giant will get (if he hasn’t dismantled it yet) to show daddy when daddy asks him what he did today.
Thats it.
Gathering Time takes about 10-20 minutes, depending on how many diapers or time outs I need to take care of.
Snack/Lesson Time takes about 20-40 minutes (or more) depending on how slow the boys eat or how complicated mommy made the project or how much fun it is to play with after we are done.
Since these times are not for very long, I don’t feel too bad about ignoring the phone or avoiding other interuptions. I also try and stay focused (like, not checking facebook or reading during project time) and work with Giant and Ettin.
Planning Preparations
I try for quieter times, like nap times or night times or daddy is home and can take care of boys times. But often my planning table has a boy or two at or on it. Sometimes I can plan a whole week in advance. Sometimes it is just for the next day or two. I put the GAK picture and any other reproducibles needed for the day in a file folder for the week. I write down needed supplies in the margin of the paper. The night before (or in independent play that day), I gather bigger items (craft supplies, etc). Thus we are semi-prepared for the day before us.
Conclusion
Seems to be working okay for now. We have some troubles if we have something happen in the morning, just because I’m not very good at catching up in the afternoon.
My planning session (back to front, left to right: GAK, ECT, lined paper. Ettin eating a felt pen, (on)my binder, week of GAKs, Giant playing with not distracting enough bats. ECT ideas, GAK upside down with summary showing. Stapler, scissors, pens and pencils strewn about) :
Did I mention my life is chaos? And that I love it?!